JACKSONVILLE - A month after furloughing nearly every employee, Lon Morris Collegein Jacksonville has shut down its entire athletic department.
Dale Dotson, the school’s longtime athletic director and head basketball coach confirmed the news to KYTXTuesday, indicating the closure will affect about 300 students, and college officials are in the process of contacting them.
Sports impacted are football, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, as well as track and field.
In a release obtained by KLTV, the college says it’s experienced negative cash flow in recent years and overextended itself in an attempt to increase its athletic programs. The college says they’re in the process of working to find an educational institution to help in the restructuring efforts.
"The College is continuing to work on its financial restructuring efforts, and continues to receive strong support from its faculty and employees, the community, alumni, the Texas Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, and its creditors. We are hopeful that the community and future students will benefit from our efforts to achieve the best outcome for Lon Morris, but recognize that near-term disruptions are inconvenient and inevitable."
Northeast Texans first learned that the college was to undergo a major restructuring on May 23, after all but 11 employees were furloughed.
